EU plans to build refugee centres in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan – Politico

The European Union is planning to begin talks with more than a dozen countries on setting up special centres for migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected in Europe. Politico reported this, citing three EU diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to the diplomats, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are among the potential partner countries. These countries could host centres where migrants may be sent after their asylum claims are rejected, as well as platforms for processing asylum applications submitted to the EU.

The Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Greece are working together on plans to establish such centres and external processing points for asylum applications. In return, participating countries could be offered development aid or visa liberalisation. One diplomat said the arrangement should be presented as a mutually beneficial solution.

The Dutch government has already informed parliament of the results of a legal assessment. According to the assessment, no legal obstacles have been identified either to processing asylum applications outside the EU or to deporting migrants who have lost the right to stay in the bloc to repatriation centres. A letter from the Dutch government seen by Politico said The Hague intends to move towards practical steps. One diplomat said an announcement on a specific agreement could be made within the next six to seven months.

“Citizens across Europe are demanding effective solutions that would restore control over migration flows. Such solutions are gradually taking shape and have already proved to be legally sound,” said Dutch Minister for Asylum and Migration Bart van den Brink.

Officially, European capitals are trying to avoid publicly naming potential partner countries. Politico noted that EU governments fear a repeat of the controversy surrounding the UK’s Rwanda plan and Italy’s agreement with Albania, which has faced legal challenges. One EU diplomat said the “clear outline” of the project is expected to be developed by the end of the year.

Discussions on establishing external centres are taking place in parallel with the final stage of negotiations on the EU’s new regulation on deporting migrants. According to the report, France and Germany are demanding that the mechanism for such centres be put into practice immediately after the regulation is formally approved.

European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner said European citizens are dissatisfied that only 28 percent of migrants ordered to leave the EU are being returned to their home countries. Most reception centres for asylum seekers are overcrowded. The Netherlands has already faced a worsening refugee reception crisis. In May, the asylum centre in Ter Apel became overcrowded, forcing dozens of people to spend the night outdoors. A wave of protests against the authorities’ migration policy and the placement of asylum seekers has also taken place across the country.

Earlier, it was reported that Austria was considering deporting Afghan nationals through Uzbekistan. In October last year, Dutch media reported that the country’s government intended to send Afghan refugees to Uzbekistan. It was also reported at the time that Germany had persuaded Uzbekistan to accept Afghan refugees.